A field manual for soil health assessment by farmers

This manual presents a set of indicators and their measurements, adapted for easy application in the field for assessing soil health. It is useful as a reference manual for farmers to assess the soil health status of their fields themselves. This manual also gives some basic information on the indicators useful for field extension workers to understand the functions of the different soil health indicators and help in adapting the management practices to effectively overcome any constraint

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Not AvailableNitrogen (N) is the mineral nutrient that crops require in the greatest amount. It has more influence on crop growth, production, and quality than any other nutrient. Nitrogen is as much essential to plant growth as it is a potential environmental pollutant. Nitrogen applied to a field but not removed in harvested products is at risk of eventually leaving the field in gaseous or liquid form. The N content of horticulture produces is generally lower than those of agricultural crops. As a result, the proportion of fertilizer N disseminated out of the systems through fruits and vegetables is low. Hence under high intensive horticulture systems, amount of free N available for loss through leaching, denitrification, erosion, etc. is huge. Increasing the efficiency of fertilizer N use can be accomplished by modifying soil and crop management practices to reflect the transitory nature of soil N. Timing and placement of fertilizer application to coincide with peak periods of utilization is foremost in importance as an aid in this venture. Several studies have documented the benefits of judicious use of chemical fertilizers, organic manures, and microbial inoculants in improving N use efficiency and enhancing crop productivity. It minimizes the risk of causing pollution by loss of N through runoff, leaching, emissions to the air, or other mechanisms. In this chapter, an attempt has been made to review various issues and approaches/practices that reduce N losses, thus making them environmentally friendly.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableHorticulture sector includes a wide variety of crops under different groups such as fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, mushroom, floriculture, medicinal and aromatic plants, nuts, and plantation crops including coconut and oil palm. Horticulture, speedily growing sector, makes significant contribution to the Indian economy. India ranks second in horticulture production in the world, next only to China. Horticultural crops, being high value crops, receive high doses of fertilisers coupled with frequent irrigation to ensure proper crop growth, development, high productivity and quality produce . Nutrient requirements of different horticultural crops vary widely and even the varieties within one crop also have differential nutrient requirements due to genetic variability. Formulation of fertiliser recommendation is a continuous process. As a pre-requisite to the successful implementation of the fertiliser management practice, the evaluation of the nutrient status of the soils including micronutrients is necessary. Soil sampling for horticulture crops should be followed as per their rooting pattern. Nutrient removal/uptake; changes in crop variety, cultural practices and cropping intensities; and the yield targets set necessitate revision and updating of fertiliser recommendations. Supplying needed nutrients for horticultural crop production has to conform to the 4Rs viz., right rate, right source, right placement, and right timing in order to ensure more economic utilization of the fertiliser resources.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableIn a 2!year experiment on a Typic Haplustert low in soil test sulphur "S# \ the response to applied farmyard manure "FYM# and S was studied in terms of the nodule production \ nodule dry weight \ chlorophyll content \ dry matter production and seed yield of soybean FYM was applied to soybean at four levels "9 05 t ha 0# S as gyp! sum was also applied at four levels "9 59 kg ha 0# to both soybean and wheat every year Both total and active nodule production \ nodule dry weight \ dry matter pro! duction and seed yield of soybean were increased sig! ni_cantly by the application of both FYM and S However \ the proportion of total nodules to active nod! ules fell sharply for applications higher than 7 t FYM and 39 kg S ha 0Not Availabl

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Not Available2019Horticultural crops contribute to national income with almost 1/5th of the total income from agricultural producecoming from it. It is widely recognised that the horticultural crops can play a vital role in overcoming problems ofmalnutrition, generating greater employment potential in rural areas and achieving nutritional security. These cropshave a tremendous potential for fertilizer use. These are heavy feeders of plant nutrients and quite a number of these crops may absorb 500-1000 kg of N + P2O5+K2O ha-1 yr-1 or even more under good management conditions.Nutrient uptake by many fruits and vegetable crops is equal to or higher than that by cereal crops. To replenish the removal and to supply sufficient amount of nutrients at each stage of crop growth, application of adequate rates of fertilizers are a must in horticultural crops. This paper covers overview of production trends in India and the nutrient removal by horticultural crops, fertilizer recommendations for these crops, estimation of fertilizer requirement of different horticulture sectors, and finally promotion of fertilizer use in horticultural crops.Not Availabl